Learn about Canada’s role in World War I
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Lesson plan overview
| Task | To learn about Canada’s role in World War I. |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 2-4) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 1.5 hours (depending on class size) |
| CLB Skills and Competencies | Speaking: Interacting with others Sharing information Listening: Interacting with others Comprehending information Reading: Comprehending information |
| Language focus | Learn the vocabulary needed to understand this topic. Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students understand some of the history of the Canadian role in World War I and understand the annual celebration of Remembrance Day. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Beginning ESL students learn some basic facts about Canada’s history in the Discover Canada study guide. Students learn some facts about Canada’s participation in World War I. Students learn about Remembrance Day and why the poppy symbolizes Canadian sacrifice. Students share information about the effect of World War I on their first countries. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson includes original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities. |
| Resource attribution | ESL Directions original resources are marked below with an asterisk (*). Feel free to use these, but please give credit to ESL Directions. |
Notes for ESL teachers and students:
This is a shortened and simplified version of some of the information in Canada’s citizenship study guide (intended to introduce this topic to beginner ESL students).
Students who are eligible to write the citizenship test should consult the Government of Canada’s full official guide, Discover Canada: The rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Please check Discover Canada for any content changes made since this webpage was created.
Additional note to teachers:
Information in this section is part of the Canadian citizenship guide. Your students who eventually write the citizenship will need to know these and other facts about World War I.
Just a note of caution … Some of your students may have experienced war personally. Unless you know that your students are comfortable with the topic of war, I would suggest discretion in teaching this lesson and in keeping the reflection questions to the historical topic of World War I (rather than asking them to share their personal experiences).
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to learn about Canada’s role in World War I.
- What is a war?
- What was World War I?
- Which countries were fighting in World War I?
- Which countries won World War I?
Skill-building activities
- Vocabulary flashcards*
- Let’s review the vocabulary and definitions* 🔊 (Pay attention to the pronunciation and spelling of each word or phrase. Think about what the definitions mean.)
Skill-using activities
FEATURED CONTENT
- Canada in World War I* 🎥
- Listen to and read a passage about World War I*🔊 (This activity also includes comprehension questions.)
- Gap fill*
Assessment/review tasks
- Vocabulary quiz*
- Spin the wheel* (Tell us what you know about each word or phrase.)
Reflection questions
- Tell us three new words you learned today.
- What did you learn about Canada’s role in World War I?
- Was your first country involved in World War I? Did that experience change your country?
- Have you seen people in Canada wearing poppies around Remembrance Day? Why do people wear poppies?
- Do you know any other things that Canadians do on Remembrance Day?
- Does your first country have a holiday like Remembrance Day? Tell us about this holiday.
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Click the small arrow at the top right of this video to play the videos or go to the YouTube Canada Playlist.
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Wordwall is a very useful interactive lesson-creation site. If you sign up for a free Wordwall account, you will be able to see our “Canada” folder, which includes ESL Directions activities that you can add to your lessons.
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ESL teacher, movie buff, constant reader, and former editor and communications pro. Now a graduate of the Teaching English as a Second Language program at the University of Manitoba and an ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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